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 |    We live much of life amid unique choices. Joy is anchored in The One beyond our life. |
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“There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on His Word spiritual strength for labour in his service. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the real nutriment out of them. . . . Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they neglect their closets, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God's Word. They love the wheat, but they do not grind it; they would have the corn, but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it. From such folly deliver us, O Lord. . . .” ― Charles Spurgeon “Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths.” ― C. H. Spurgeon “Hope itself is like a star- not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.” ― Charles Haddon Spurgeon “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.” ― Charles Spurgeon “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” ― Charles Spurgeon “Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” ― Charles Spurgeon “When your will is God's will, you will have your will.” ― Charles Spurgeon https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/2876959.Charles_Haddon_Spurgeon (Philippians 2:13, KJV)    |
The Day of Hope is evermore the same. Restored 'twill be for human hearts, that cry by waiting on the One, Whose greatest Name has Grace, that on repentant souls apply. The Day of Hope has Peace to escort all, who residence in Christ, Whose merits blessed now rest upon the heads of those, who call on Him, Who victored over ev'ry test. The Day of Hope, it evermore shall be, Salvation to completed souls of Earth, who rest forgiven in The Son of He, Who showed us Mercy, gifting us new birth. The warmest blanket, Hope is blest fore'er, the canvas of His greatest love and care. by Jay O'Toole on January 15th, 2021/size} |
Eternity, lesson taught, lost in thought. Wondering inside of me. Some day live there, joy and peace, full release. Care. by Jay O'Toole on January 14th, 2021/size} |
"Heavenly Father, make me know the heart of childhood evermore. Make Christmastide my peace to know throughout the year to ever store." December days are oft a rush with homes to trim and meals to make, we're ever looking for a hush, and moments with the Lord to take. But when the year is fresh and new, it's here, that Christmas is the best. The flurried holidays are through with peace our canvas and our rest. The world, it knows each Christmas brief of gifts unwrapped and stuffing gone, but childlike hearts all know Relief when seasoned greetings start the fun. This January, light a tree and read of Nick, the sainted one. Endure the cold the heart to free by sitting on the porch anon. The year is young. Mysterious days are made by God to paint through us. His peace infused in all displays Creation makes to help our trust. The child within knows Christmastide means days of rest and joyful play. "O, Jesus, help me gift my pride to You, Who gift me Life today." (John 3:16) by Jay O'Toole on January 13th, 2021 |
The thing, that gives the Lord the greatest laugh is when a human says, "I have a plan." For God creates our days, and blows the chaff. He steadies hearts and lungs of ev'ry man. "I need no God for He has never been a factor in my daily life on Earth." "How funny are you, little man of sin for I have planned your days before your birth." "I'll make a million dollars, while I'm young. I'll travel 'round the world, and build my name." "You have a name the world has always sung. A mansion waits because I took your blame." A human plan is best when giv'n to One, Who made the worlds by Word of His Dear Son. by Jay O'Toole on January 12th, 2021 |
Full of noise, the world it spins. Will the silence ever win? Hopeful hearts contend with noise. Thicker, thicker cloth employs. Youthful heart remembers when “waiting turns” was the rule back then. Now, the tongues of men all speak as Silence looks for a place to seek. Noise about, and noise of heart Noise increases from the start. Noise it etches on the ears. Noise creates the worst of fears. Peace, that’s found within the noise is blest by One each child enjoys. Peace of heart ‘mid noisy waves is the Gift of Christ o’er what enslaves. Noisy noise, arrested rest is anything but truly blest. A piece of peace, a whole of the same Is strong in itself, and ne’er lays blame. The noise demands. It must be heard. It has its plans with others blurred. The peace has grace. It waits unspoke. It has its place. It is no joke. Both Noise and Peace are cut from cloth With strength of days, with neither sloth. But Noise must work to yet remain, While Peace will stand as free of pain. Peace exists in lasting form as silent strength without alarm. Peace will end these noisy days as the peaceful heart in worship prays. by Jay O'Toole on January 11th, 2021 |
The lights of Christmas still they shine in the room, and in my heart. What colorful glow, they cheer so fine from new year's pleasant start! Four colors in the beauteous strand do lift my spirits now. Four corners of the Earth by Plan will one day 'fore Christ bow. (Philippians 2:5-11) The music of the season fills the room with Christmas Joy. The two in tandem always thrill my heart without alloy. Aromas of the season, best bring back my memories of a joyful child, so daily blest in playfulness most free. The orange peels, and cinnamon spice make my nose as light as air. I close my eyes and breathe in thrice to smile without a care. The bark of pine a fragrant gift to make the tree more real. The pleasant scent my soul doth lift, and emotions fully heal. But all the things are merely signs along the road, called Grace, for Christ, the Lord, the Best of wines was born to take my place. "I'll honor Christmas in my heart, and keep it all the year. I'll live the Present, Past, the start, and Future, now, so clear. "The Spirits of all Three befriend as they, now, drive me on. I will not deaf ears them attend, and lessons learn anon." The glow of Christmas still it shines for Christ has come to save, restores my soul, erases lines, expunges writ of grave. I think of Christmas every day, and often every night for "Christ is Lord" let my lips say. My heart doth hold Him tight. This precious Lord has come for me, and Christmas is the peg to hang my hat, and daily see He drank the latest dregs. Yet, Secret Christmas, tandem love, it thrills the deepest place within my heart for Christ Above did die to Sin erase. At Secret Christmas, we do find a thought in Mercy's grip, "The best of Presents, and so kind begins the lasting trip. 'Twas Hope for which we always pined. 'Twas cry upon each lip. 'Pon greatest Gift, we e'er shall dine, which left the shroud of strips." The greatest Truth we all must know is that the two are joined. This Christmas with its wondrous glow, and Secret Christmas coined. For Christmas with no empty tomb would have no value, rare, but with no Child from a virgin's womb, it's just a cave out there. ----------------------------------------- "The best present of Christmas is opened on Resurrection Sunday." (Secret Christmas) https://secret777christmas.wordpress.com/2014/04/20/secret-christmas-easter-morn... ------------------------------------------------------ “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.” ― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/494832-i-will-honour-christmas-in-my-heart-and-... (Outside of The Bible, this is my favorite Christmas quote. JOT) by Jay O'Toole on January 8th, 2021 |
daytime light is small cloudy cold, and gentle wind chill now covers Earth by Jay O'Toole on January 7th, 2021 |
no light can be seen stillness covers, thick the night Who can push it back? by Jay O'Toole on January 6th, 2021 |
Soft and quiet flows the air. Slowly daylight fades. Gentle in His loving care, wings are truest shades. Honking comes from flying geese, Swooshing from the cars. Color lights do always please the depths of heart by far. The grass, a blanket for the night to cover dirt and root. A rumbling stillness dons each light as waiting owls hoot. by Jay O'Toole on January 5th, 2021 |
The Lord Alone can be my Guard to keep my every way. With Hands so strong, yet ever scarred, He's with me every day. "I lift my eyes unto the hills. My help will come from there. My help comes from the Lord, Who fills the Earth and my sins bear. "He made the heaven and the earth. My foot shall no one lift. His blood was shed for my new birth, my greatest lifelong Gift. "He will not let my foot be moved. No sleep will He e'er need. He keepeth Israel, His Love. No slumber He will heed. "The Lord, thy Keeper, life as long. The Lord will shade thy strength. The Lord will give thy daily song, and victory at length. "The sun won't harm you in the day. The moon won't harm at night. The Lord preserves in each display from evil by his might. "All evil tries your death to be, but He preserves your soul. The way of life is made for thee, and e'er you shall be whole. "The Lord preserves thy going out. Thy coming in as well. From this time forth, your life about forevermore to tell." ------------------------------------------------------- "1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. 3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. 8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore." (Psalm 121, KJV) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Abrahamic Covenant: "2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 12:2-3, KJV) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I will make thee a nation great to bless thee and thy name. Thy blessings will upon thy pate know rest and you the same. "I will bless them, that bless thee true, and curse the vilest tongue, that spews his venom all on you. My wrath on him full wrung. "And in thee all the souls of Earth, their families shall be blest. For you are mine, of lasting worth. I'll bring you through each test." ------------------------------------------- As I move forward into this new year of 2021, I am keenly aware, that I am feeling the residual effects of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual challenge, that was the old year of 2020. I am quite sure the intensity of the challenges we all experienced in the past twelve months was due to the relentlessness of the challenges. After all, when I trained for marathons, back in my late twenties, I had to give my body recovery days. I couldn't run 15 miles a day every day for three months, and be fit for running the marathon, although some runners could do that quite handily. My regimen called for me to run 3-5 miles on Day #1, take the day off, run 3-5 miles on Day #3, take the day off, run 15 miles on the weekend, and take a day off to end the week. As I think back on that regimen, I would have done better to run a graduated schedule like that for the first month, then increase my mileage totals for the three training days, and even increase to four or five days a week. Stretching my memory I do seem to recall some 20 mile days as I approached the day of the marathon. Bottom Line: The body, the mind, the emotions, and the spirit can all do intense things for a season, but there comes a time for rest and recovery. Sadly, 2020 didn't give us much opportunity for that. There is great Hope and there is a great need for 2021 to be a time of rest and recovery. Please, join me in prayer, that the Lord would give us four more years of Grace, and a time of restorative rest as those days begin on January 20, 2021. By the Grace of God, 2021 will be The Year of Rest and Restored Hope. Blessings, All. Happy New Year! by Jay O'Toole on January 4th, 2021 |
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